Abstract Background Dietary management plays a central role in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic enteropathy (CE) in dogs. Although hydrolyzed–protein diets are commonly used in patients with CE, and dietary fat restriction is recommended in selected gastrointestinal disorders, the combined effect of low fat and hydrolyzed protein has not been specifically evaluated. Hypothesis/Objectives Assess clinical response and acceptability of a low-fat, hydrolyzed diet in dogs with CE. Animals Thirty-one client-owned dogs. Methods Prospective clinical study. Dogs were fed a commercial low-fat (2.01 g/100 kcal metabolizable energy) hydrolyzed salmon protein diet and stratified according to previous dietary history. Dogs were evaluated at baseline, 1 month, and 3 months. The primary outcome was clinical response, classified as complete response (CR), partial response (PR), or non-response (NR) based on gastrointestinal signs and the Canine Inflammatory Bowel Disease Activity Index (CIBDAI) score. Dogs with CR or PR were considered responders. Diet acceptability was assessed. Results At T1, 20 of 31 (64.5%) dogs were categorized as CR, 3 of 31 (9.7%) as PR, and 8 of 31 (25.8%) as NR. Twenty-three of 31 (74.2%) dogs had a positive clinical response. The CIBDAI scores decreased significantly from T0 to T1 (P < .001). At T2, 94.4% of initial responders maintained CR. Diet acceptability was excellent in 75.0% of cases. Conclusions and clinical importance This low-fat, hydrolyzed diet had significant short- and mid-term effectiveness and was well tolerated in dogs with CE, reinforcing its potential as a treatment for food-responsive enteropathy.
Abstract Background Ultrasonography is well established in veterinary practice, and renal dimensions may aid in diagnosing chronic kidney disease (CKD) in cats. Hypothesis/Objectives Assess whether renal length, cortical and medullary thickness, and derived ratios identify CKD, reflect CKD severity, and are changed by hyperthyroidism. Evaluate effects of age, body weight, sex, laterality, and observer variability on renal dimensions. Animals Two hundred fifty-nine client-owned cats: healthy (n = 179), CKD-affected (n = 38), and nonazotemic hyperthyroid (n = 42). Methods Ultrasonographic renal dimensions were measured retrospectively. Group comparisons were performed using fixed effects and mixed models. Diagnostic accuracy was assessed using receiver operating characteristic analysis. Effects of age, body weight, sex, and laterality were evaluated using multiple linear regression. Intraobserver (novice) and interobserver (novice vs expert) variability were quantified using intraclass correlation coefficients from random effect models. Results Age, body weight, and sex accounted for biological variation in healthy cats, which also exhibited minor left–right kidney asymmetry. Cats with CKD were reliably distinguished from healthy and hyperthyroid cats by renal dimensions. Compared with age-comparable healthy cats, CKD-affected cats had shorter kidneys (−0.49 cm, −13.26%, P < .001), thinner cortices (dorsal: −0.10 cm, −16.23%, P < .001; transverse: −0.06 cm, −9.14%, P < .05), and thinner medullae (dorsal: −0.28 cm, −26.25%, P < .001; transverse: −0.24 cm, −19.7%, P < .001). Renal length and medullary thickness showed the highest diagnostic accuracy, but no renal dimension reliably reflected disease severity. Interobserver variability was considerable. Conclusions and clinical importance Ultrasonographic renal dimensions may support CKD diagnosis in cats, but biological and observer variability must be considered.
Abstract Background Meningoencephalitis of unknown origin (MUO) is a common inflammatory central nervous system (CNS) disease in dogs with unclear etiology, complicating diagnosis. Hypothesis/Objectives Dogs with MUO exhibit distinct cytokine profiles in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) compared to other CNS diseases and controls. Animals The study included 23 dogs diagnosed with MUO based on clinical signs, supportive CSF, and imaging findings. For comparison, 110 dogs were included, comprising dogs with CNS disorders, neurological diseases not involving the CNS (non-CNS), and orthopedic diseases. Methods In this prospective cross-sectional observational study, 6 cytokines (interferon-γ [IFN-γ], TNF-α, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, IL-15) were measured in paired CSF and serum samples using multiplex bead-based immunoassays. Primary outcome was the association between CSF cytokine concentrations and MUO, assessed by logistic regression. Results Meningoencephalitis of unknown origin showed significantly higher CSF concentrations compared to idiopathic epilepsy, intracranial neoplasia, intervertebral disc herniation, and non-CNS diseases in IFN-γ (MUO: median 108.4 pg/mL, IQR 25.8 vs comparison group: 10.5 pg/mL, IQR 0.0; β-coefficient 0.039, 95% CI, 0.021-0.057, P < .001) and interleukin (IL)-10 (MUO: 171.1 pg/mL, IQR 37.0 vs 8.5 pg/mL, IQR 0.0; β-coefficient 0.021, 95% CI, 0.011-0.030, P < .001). Moreover, TNF-α (β-coefficient 0.062, 95% CI, 0.023-0.102, P < .01), IL-15 (β-coefficient 0.080, 95% CI, 0.012-0.148, P < .05) and IL-2 (β-coefficient 0.055, 95% CI, 0.005-0.104, P < .05) concentrations were also elevated in MUO versus comparison group. Conclusions and clinical importance Cerebrospinal fluid cytokine profiling identifies a characteristic intrathecal immune signature in MUO, advancing the understanding of its immunopathogenesis.
Abstract Nasoesophageal tube placement for a prolonged period of time has not previously been associated with esophageal stricture in cats. Three cats with suspected hepatic lipidosis required extended enteral nutritional support because voluntary food intake remained < 25% of the calculated resting energy requirement. The cumulative duration of nasoesophageal tube placement was 24-37 days. Regurgitation or retching developed within 1-3 days after tube removal, and esophagoscopy identified severe focal strictures in the cervical esophagus at the C4-C6 vertebral level in all 3 cats. One cat underwent 3 endoscopic balloon dilatation sessions at 1-week intervals, with enlargement of the esophageal lumen. The consistent anatomic location and temporal association with prolonged tube placement suggest that extended nasoesophageal intubation may be a risk factor for cervical esophageal stricture formation in cats. When prolonged nutritional support is anticipated, transition to a feeding tube intended for long-term use should be considered.
Abstract Background Acute digestive conditions in dairy cattle are common, yet diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis remain challenging. Hypothesis/Objectives Describe the prevalence and characteristics of acute digestive conditions in dairy cows admitted to a referral hospital and evaluate the prognostic value of blood L-lactate concentrations during the first 24 h in both medical and surgical cases. Animals Two hundred thirty-seven dairy cows with a final diagnosis of an acute digestive condition admitted between 2016 and 2021. Methods Retrospective study. Clinical data, treatments, outcomes, and L-lactate measurements at admission, 6-12, and 12-24 h were extracted. Associations with survival were assessed using generalized linear models and receiver operating characteristic analysis. Results Acute digestive conditions accounted for 13% of admissions for cattle, were most common in the first months of lactation, and 71 combinations of clinical signs were observed. Forty-five percent of cases were managed medically. Non-obstructive conditions (62%) predominated. Hyper-L-lactatemia at admission was negatively associated with short-term survival (odds ratio [OR], 0.88; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.82-0.94; P < .001). L-lactate at 6-12 h showed the strongest association (OR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.29-0.76; P < .01) and highest predictive performance (area under the curve [AUC], 0.83). Percentage change between admission and 6-12 h was also associated with survival (OR = 0.95; 95% CI, 0.92-0.98; P < .01). Conclusions and clinical importance We documented the variability of acute abdominal conditions in dairy cows and the prognostic value of serial L-lactate measurements, which may support clinical decision making based on assessment of early changes.
